SciFi Japan

    BANDAI MARKET REPORT

    For nearly 30 years, Bandai has been producing and amazing variety of vinyl figures based on characters from the Godzilla, Toho, and Gamera films. Photos courtesy of Mike Russo, Bob Johnson, and John DeSentis. © Toho Co., Ltd. © Bandai Co., Ltd.

    An Overview and Price Guide for the Bandai Godzilla Toy Market Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Special Thanks Mike Russo, Jean Carbajal, Brandon Shields, Bob Johnson, Greg Cordaro, Andy Shields, and James Bond

    A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

    Welcome to the market overview and price guide to Bandai Godzilla collectibles. The Bandai Company for decades now has been the standard for producing toys based on popular Japanese characters; they are essentially the Mattel of Japan. As it pertains to this article, they began producing toys based on characters in the GODZILLA Series in 1983. Over the years since, both the output and quality of the company has steadily increased. The figures themselves are made of vinyl and have been primarily produced in two sizes, 6 inch and 8 inch scale, with the 8 inch scale being the most popular with collectors. There are also larger figures which vary between the 14 and 24 inch scale. The decision to focus on the Bandai market is due to the company’s immense popularity among Godzilla fans and a general need to know where the toys currently stand as far as pricing and rarity. Therefore, we have done research and kept our eyes on general trends, from sales on the internet and at shows throughout the year such as G-Fest (the annual celebration of Godzilla and Toho Sci-Fi), the San Diego and New York Comic-Cons, Chiller Theater (the legendary toy and horror film expo in New Jersey), and other collector shows and marketplaces such as Frank & Son (in California) and the like. We also keep our eye on shops in the major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Finally, we also go to the people closest to the toys— dealers and collectors— to get their opinions and observations. Also included in this market report is pricing on GODZILLA-related Bandai figures such as the REBIRTH OF MOTHRA trilogy, the GAMERA series, and even Toho`s YAMATO TAKERU (OROCHI THE EIGHT HEADED DRAGON). We are not, however, pricing DX (deluxe), battery operated, or candy toys. This article strictly covers the standard figures in their various scales.

    HOW WE FIGURE THIS STUFF OUT

    Baragon: At one time the rarest of Standard Bandai figures. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1965 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1992 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    Back in the mid-90s, a collector at G-Con paid somewhere just above $200 for a Bandai BARAGON, which at the time was considered a “holy grail” of Bandai figures so to speak. It sent waves through the dealer world and immediately jumped the price of the toy up significantly. Thankfully, we are in a more modest age and things like this do not occur anymore due to these toys becoming more available. However, there are times when someone may still pay far above the average for a piece and we do not find it practical to factor in those scattered occurrences. We simply look at the average. It is also not practical to factor in when a particular piece sells for well below average market cost. Case in point: this past year at G-Fest in Chicago, a Bandai GODZILLA 1984 with the original plastic tag sold for $75 when the average selling price is between $125 and $150. A tagged LITTLE GODZILLA sold at San Diego Comic-Con for $25 and that is a $50-$70 toy. Such deals are less frequent and do not necessarily reflect what the toy normally goes for. We also don’t factor in “arms lengths” deals which are usually friend to friend and are well below market value. As an example of this, your friend who has had a Bandai MINYA for years sells it to you for $10 because he doesn’t care about it anymore, but he cuts you a good price because you are his friend. If this happens to you, congratulations and be sure to thank your friend for cutting you such a good deal. That doesn’t, however, mean that is what the toy is “going for”.

    The margin that a dealer buys a toy for and what they sell it for usually vary in the vicinity of at least 30% which, in standard resale, is what is considered profitable. The toys usually are also a little more expensive at shows. This is because the dealers have to make money to cover travel and overhead and also because there is usually an "impulse price" for getting the toy there and now. It’s standard practice. Despite this, we have seen some great deals to be had at shows as well as plenty of “what the heck are they thinking?!”-type deals. Usually if a dealer has had the same toy unsold for several years and have not budged on the price, it says something. We simply watch, confer, keep our ears to the ground, and try our best to come up with a happy medium which is good for both dealer interests and customer interests. This is simply meant to give a range but always remember the bottom line on a collectible is that it is personally worth what you are willing to pay for it.

    THE “EBAY FACTOR”

    There’s an infamous story around town of the lamenting dealer who once raised his fists in the air and cried, “eBay destroyed the Godzilla market!” While this is far from true, eBay has definitely had a gradual effect on the market. Most dealers have opted to use eBay to their advantage, and the customers know there are great deals to be had there. The internet in general has made it a lot easier to obtain these toys directly from Japan. That said, if you think you can “get it cheaper on eBay”, it’s extremely bad form to throw that in a dealer’s face at a show. EBay is factored into the pricing but on a strict basis. This just has to do with how much the toys can fluctuate at auction. A Bandai GOROSAURUS with tag is easily worth between $80 and $110, and they routinely sell on eBay for that amount. There was, however, a recent auction which sold for somewhere around the $60-$70 price range due to the fact that there were several other auctions that garnered more attention. Sometimes the time that an auction ends (such as early morning hours) can have an effect on how many bids it gets. Sometimes auctions just slip under the radar.

    WHERE WE ARE TODAY

    Let’s face the fact that this is not the mid-late ‘90s anymore when these items cost as much as a down payment on a house. The economy has hit luxuries and hobbies widespread and the Godzilla market is not immune to it. Many people are just trying to survive nowadays much less collect Godzilla toys. There was a very noticeable drop in the prices of the toys year to year as things got progressively worse. In 1998, to say that within ten years a prized Bandai BIOLLANTE which was, at the time, about a $300 toy boxed would be obtainable for under $200 would garner laughs. One sold this past summer for $125. There are also things that are more difficult to put prices on due to the fact that there haven’t been many such transactions, such as “test shots”, which are unpainted versions of toys used to test out the molds. Some collectors place high value on them; some think they aren’t much to be wowed at. That, of course, all depends strictly on the collector.

    WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

    Bandai`s King Kong and Gorosaurus are among of the most popular figures in the series. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. King Kong © 1933 Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. Gorosaurus © 1967 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1993 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    Despite falling prices and increased availability, there are several pieces that remain on the higher end of the demand scale. The “original five” are still popular with KING GHIDORAH 1964 (both original and 1988 reissue) being a particularly sought after item. KAMAKIRAS also fetches high prices and the KING KONG ESCAPES trio (KING KONG, MECHANIKONG, and GOROSAURUS) are ever popular. MOGERA 1957 style is becoming very hard to find with both the tag and antenna attached, while BARAGON and MEGALON round out the high end. All these toys seem to have held their value well. In the 6 inch scale, TITANOSAURUS is the undoubted winner as far as rarity and popularity. The toy regularly fetches between $60-$80 at auction, and at conventions it can sell for upwards of $90-$100. Last summer at G-Fest, there were none to be found in the dealers room by Saturday night. Its brother figures, GODZILLA 1974, KING SEESAR (six inch scale), and MECHAGODZILLA 1975 are also in the higher end of the pricing. Also extremely popular are the 6 inch classic GODZILLA styles from the 2004 GODZILLA MEMORIAL BOX with the 1984 style GODZILLA seemingly being the most sought after. On the other hand, the original Bandai GIGAN toy is almost as cheap now as it was when it came out in Japan. This is most certainly due to its poor sculpt and to a vastly superior likeness being released in 1998 (in 6 Inch scale) and subsequently reissued in the new millennium. Other toys, such as ANGILAS, MECHAGODZILLA 1994, M.O.G.E.R.A. 1994, and FIRE RODAN seem to be hard sells these days. There are two major factors which determine the value of a figure. One is if it was ever reissued. We tend to see that almost every figure that has not had a reissue is still in the higher end of the pricing scale. The other major factor is…

    WITH TAG OR WITHOUT TAG

    An attached tag for the 1988 issue of Bandai`s GODZILLA 1964 figure. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1964 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1988 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    And this factor is the BIG one. Toys without their original attached tags are in abundance and easy to come by. Those with tags attached are not as easily found, especially some of the older pieces. As said before, KING GHIDORAH (1964 style) seems to still be a high end item with its original plastic tag. For the purposes of this article, figures with tags will be denoted “W/T” and those without tags will be denoted “W/O”. Naturally, when most collectors first got their toys, they detached the tags and many times threw them away. Others kept the tag and in more recent years began to re-attach them (a simple process that involves a tag gun and heating the vinyl). The act of reattaching the tags became controversial among those who viewed it as “cheapening” the value and collectability of the toy. It is relatively easy to spot reattached tags especially on older toys as the eye-loop hangers show visual and physical wear from years on the figure. Usually they get discolored a bit. Bandai tags also usually have the eye-loops cut very tight like more of a “circle” and less of a “C” shape. While this may have been an issue years ago, the general consensus now is that the presence of a mint or near mint tag is so rare for some that it really doesn’t matter whether the tag is attached, detached, or re-attached. So for the sake of streamlining and ease of understanding, “with tag” (W/T) simply means the presence of the tag whether attached or not. There will be times where certain figures are impossible to value without tags or separate from a box set due to the simple fact that they are so rare that they just haven’t been seen commonly sold without a tag. There are also a multitude of exclusives such as those from the Millennium Series that are so contemporary that they have not been seen to sell without tags, either. When the information is not available, it will be denoted “N/A”. If you do happen to come across a contemporary figure such as, say, an ITO YOKADO EXCLUSIVE GODZILLA 2003 without a tag it’s probably a good bet to estimate about a $5.00-$10.00 difference in price.

    A NOTE ABOUT THE DATES ON THE TAGS

    Throughout this report you will notice that many of the figures, especially the Godzilla figures, have year markers on the tags that are one year ahead of the actual edition of the toy. For instance, Bandai`s GODZILLA 2005 is actually the 2004 style of the suit from GODZILLA: FINAL WARS. The presumed reason for this is that all Godzilla movies from the 1990s through the 2000s came out in December and thus, were usually in theaters into the New Year. This was probably a tactic by Bandai to keep the figures appearing “fresh” on shelves in the following year.

    The Original Five. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1964 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1983-84 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    A NOTE ABOUT “THE ORIGINAL FIVE”

    Special mention must be made for the first standard toys ever put out by Bandai: GODZILLA 1962 style, 1964, 1984, MECHAGODZILLA 1974, and KING GHIDORAH 1964. The 1962 GODZILLA is stamped with a 1983 copyright and originally came in a bag with paperwork and the tag loose inside. There was never an attached tag to the 1962 GODZILLA when it came out. Information regarding the 1964 GODZILLA, on the other hand, is more ambiguous. Despite some who claim there was never an attached tag, there most certainly were versions that came with tags attached. There also might have been some without attached tags that came bagged as well. One collector owned a piece in which no tag hole was found. There has yet to be one for sale in a bag in the same style as the 1962 versions (that we know of) anytime recently. GODZILLA 1984 style, MECHAGODZILLA 1974, and KING GHIDORAH 1964 all had attached tags, although the tag to KING GHIDORAH came wrapped around the figure`s neck via a rubber band, not the customary eye-loop tag.

    BANDAI MARKET REPORT

    So that brings us to the 2010 Bandai Market Price Guide as opined from noticeable transactions, collector input, and scuttlebutt around the dealer rooms and online forums. It is broken down by year and then by any other appropriate category within. We hope it helps you when making your purchases.

    1983

    THE GODZILLA COLLECTION

    GODZILLA 1962 • In Bag - $125-$175 • W/T - $110-$150 • W/O - $50 - $60

    1984

    GODZILLA 1964 • W/T - $120-$160 • W/O – $45-$60 GODZILLA 1984 • W/T - $125-$150 • W/O - $50-$60 MECHAGODZILLA 1974 • W/T - $110-$150 • W/O - $55-$75 KING GHIDORAH (ORANGE OR GOLD) • W/T - $175-$225 • W/O - $60-$80 *Note: King Ghidorah came with the tag attached to the figure with a rubber band, NOT an eyeloop tag.

    GREAT MONSTER SERIES 1984

    Great Monster Series Limited Bronze Godzilla. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1964 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1984 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    The Bandai Great Monster Series was a line of larger scale figures produced during the 1980s. GODZILLA 1964 • In Box - $250-$300 • Out of Box - $150-$200 MOTHRA LARVA 1961 (RUBBER) • In Box - $90-$115 • Out of Box - $50-$60 KING GHIDORAH 1964 (FRAGILE WINGS) • In Box - $150-$200 • Out of Box - $90-$115 GODZILLA 1964 (LIMITED EDITION BRONZE COLOR) • In Box - $1,200-$1,500 • Out of Box - $800-$1,000

    1988

    GODZILLA 1964 (STANDARD REISSUE) • W/T - $200-$350 • W/O - $40-$50 *Note: This toy is almost identical to the 1989 “DESTROY ALL MONSTERS TAG” reissue except for a divergence in paint. The 1988 version is known to have less silver paint spray which is only on the belly whereas the 1989 version has an “overspray” of silver which extends up the chest. It is extremely rare to find this toy with a 1988 tag.

    Godzilla and King Ghidorah 1964 Style with 1988 Reissue Tags. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1964 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1988 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    KING GHIDORAH (STANDARD REISSUE SHINY OR DULL PAINT) • W/T - $150-$200 • W/O - $50-$70

    GODZILLA 1964 (GREAT MONSTER SERIES REISSUE) • In Box - $175-$200 • Out of Box - $100-$130

    1989

    The year 1989 began the use of the “DESTROY ALL MONSTERS” tag for all of the standard GODZILLA SERIES figures released over the next few years. The individual toys were denoted by their Japanese character names and specific information on the back of the tag.

    GODZILLA SERIES

    GODZILLA 1964 (STANDARD REISSUE) • W/T - $60-$80 • W/O - $35-$45 *Note: The 1989 “DAM Tagged” issue of this toy contains silver spray up the belly and chest. KING GHIDORAH (STANDARD REISSUE) • W/T - $250-$400 • W/O - $50-$70

    *Note: This toy is probably one of the rarest if not THE rarest standard Bandai ever issued and so few have ever been known to exist that it was difficult to place a value on it. As with the above mentioned reissue of GODZILLA 1964, this toy is known to look identical to the 1988 “dull painted” KING GHIDORAH and thus impossible to distinguish without a tag. Therefore it holds the same value as the previous issue without tag. ANGILAS • W/T - $40-$60 • W/O - $25-$35 GIGAN • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $20-$30 MECHAGODZILLA 1974 (REISSUE OF ORIGINAL MECHAGODZILLA, SLIGHTLY SMALLER IN SCALE) • W/T - $35-$40 • W/O - $25-$30 *Note: In addition to a difference in size and tag, the 1989 reissue of MECHAGODZILLA 1974 can be identified by the presence of a "bubble" on the tip of the tail, whereas the original issue had an indention (sort of a "negative bubble").

    Bandai Megalon. Photo courtesy of Bob Johnson. © 1973 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1989 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    MOTHRA LARVA 1964 • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $15-$20 MEGALON • W/T - $80-$115 • W/O - $45-$60 RODAN 1956 • W/T - $50-$80 • W/O - $35-$45

    GAMERA SERIES FIGURES

    Bandai also began issuing figures based on the classic GAMERA series from Daiei Studios in 1990. One or two new figures were released each year through 1993. GAMERA 1965 • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $20-$25 GYAOS 1967 • W/T - $30-$40 • W/O - $20-$25

    1991

    GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH

    Bandai`s GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH figures. Godzillasurus was first released in 1993. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1991 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1991-93 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 1991 • W/T - $80-$100 • W/O - $30-$45 KING GHIDORAH 1991 • W/T - $40-$50 • W/O - $25-$35 *Note: There are two variations of KING GHIDORAH 1991; the original issue with “sharp” horns and the reissue with “dull”, slightly shortened horns. Both are valued the same.

    MECHA-KING GHIDORAH (14 INCHES) • W/T - $75-$90 • W/O - $45-$55 GODZILLA 1991 (LARGE SCALE 14 INCHES) • In Box - $95-$125 • Out of Box - $60-$80 *Note: The original issue of this toy has a “dull” paint and the poster artwork from GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH (1991) on the top of the box. The reissue has a shinier paint and no artwork on the box.

    GREAT MONSTER SERIES

    MOTHRA LARVA 1961 (VINYL REISSUE) • W/T - $60-$80 • W/O - $40-$50

    GAMERA SERIES

    BARUGON • W/T - $30-$40 • W/O - $25-$30 ZIGRA • W/T - $20-$30 • W/O - $15-$20

    1992

    GODZILLA VS MOTHRA (aka GODZILLA AND MOTHRA: THE BATTLE FOR EARTH)

    GODZILLA 1992 • W/T - $50-$80 • W/O - $35-$40 BATTRA ADULT • In Box - $50-$80 • Out of Box - $30-$40 BATTRA LARVA • W/T - $65-$75 • W/O - $40-$50 MOTHRA 1992 ADULT • In Box - $40-$60 • Out of Box - $25-$35 MOTHRA 1992 LARVA • W/T - $40-$60 • W/O - $25-$35

    GODZILLA SERIES

    BIOLLANTE • In Box - $125-$150 • Out of Box - $75-$95 MOTHRA 1964 ADULT • In Box - $45-$75 • Out of Box - $25-$35 BARAGON • W/T - $80-$115 • W/O - $45-$65 MINYA • W/T - $40-$60 • W/O - $25-$30 MECHANIKONG • W/T - $80-$110 • W/O - $50-$70 The 1989 “DESTROY ALL MONSTERS” tagged figures were also reissued in 1992. With the exception of minor differences in paint on some figures and an updated copyright date on the tags, the figures are identical to the previous release. Both the 1989 and 1992 editions currently have the same market value.

    GAMERA SERIES

    GUIRON • W/T - $60-$80 • W/O - $30-$40

    1993

    GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA II

    Bandai`s GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA II figures. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1993 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1993 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 1993 (REISSUE OF 1992 STYLE) • W/T - $50-$75 • W/O - $35-$45 MECHAGODZILLA 1994 • W/T - $40-$50 • W/O - $25-$30 FIRE RODAN 1994 • W/T - $25-$40 • W/O - $20-$25 BABY GODZILLA • W/T - $40-$60 • W/O - $30-$40

    GODZILLA SERIES

    GODZILLASAURUS • W/T - $40-$65 • W/O - $25-$35

    The Bandai Standard Hedorah was released in 1993. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1971 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1993 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GOROSAURUS • W/T - $80-$110 • W/O - $50-$65 HEDORAH THE SMOG MONSTER • W/T - $50-$80 • W/O - $40-$50 KAMAKIRAS • W/T - $85-$150 • W/O - $60-$80 KING KONG • W/T - $80-$105 • W/O - $50-$70 KING SEESAR • W/T - $50-$70 • W/O - $40-$50 JET JAGUAR • W/T - $40-$60 • W/O - $30-$40 GODZILLA 1991/GODZILLASAURUS TWO PACK • Mint on Blister Card - $250-$350 • Out of Blister Card – See individual W/O Values.

    *Note: This set is very hard to come by on a mint card due to the fact that the plastic blister tends to age and become very frail over time. Most sets have some kind of damage to the blister. Some collectors have noted size differences in the individual figures from their tagged counterparts. The 1991 GODZILLA from the two-pack has a tail that curls upward more so than the standard issue as well as eyes that tend to have a brighter shade of maroon. These differences are not gospel, however, as there have been paint types that more closely match the original issues as well.

    GAMERA SERIES

    JIGER • W/T - $35-$45 • W/O - $25-$30 VIRAS • W/T - $30-$35 • W/O - $25-$30

    1994

    GODZILLA VS SPACEGODZILLA

    Bandai`s GODZILLA VS SPACEGODZILLA figures. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1994 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1994 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 1994 (REISSUE OF 1992 STYLE) • W/T - $50-$65 • W/O - $30-$45

    SPACEGODZILLA • W/T - $60-$80 • W/O 0 $40-$50 LITTLE GODZILLA • W/T - $50-$70 • W/O - $25-$35 M.O.G.E.R.A. 1994 • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $15-$25 GODZILLA 1994 (BIG SCALE “SUPER PREMIUM” 24 INCHES) • In Box - $200-$350 • Out of Box - $150-$200

    GODZILLA SERIES

    MOGERA 1957 (WITH FRAGILE ANTENNAS) • W/T - $85-$125 • W/O - $60-$70

    YAMATO TAKERU FIGURES

    In 1994, Toho Studios produced another special effects fantasy film entitled YAMATO TAKERU (promoted internationally by Toho as OROCHI THE EIGHT-HEADED DRAGON) and Bandai produced toys accordingly. The tags for the YAMATO TAKERU figures were marked with a gold Godzilla product sticker. LAVA GOD (KUMASOGAMI) • W/T - $40-$50 • W/O - $30-$40

    The giant Bandai Hydra of Yamata figure from YAMATO TAKERU. © 1994 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1994 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    SEA GOD MUBA (KAISHIN MUBA) • W/T - $35-$45 • W/O - $30-$35 BATTLE GOD OF SPACE (UTSU NO IKASUGAMI, COMES WITH SEPARATE SWORD) • W/T - $40-$50 • W/O - $35-$40 WHITE BIRD OF HEAVEN (AMA NO SHIRATORI) • W/T - $30-$40 • W/O - $25-$30 HYDRA OF YAMATA (YAMATA NO OROCHI 14 INCH SCALE) • In Box - $100-$150 • Out of Box – $60-$80

    1995

    The GODZILLA SERIES took an interesting turn in 1995 with the release of GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH. The movie boasted the tag line “GODZILLA DIES!” The release of this movie brought an onslaught of merchandise. Also unique was the fact that this was the first year that Bandai released a “Theater Exclusive” figure, which is the “Meltdown” Style Godzilla. The company also switched to softer vinyl reportedly due to safety concerns with children injuring themselves. Although the switch was due to the public`s concern for safety, the softer vinyl allowed for more detail, better sculpts and a duller/less shiny finish, giving the figures a more realistic appearance that better matched the on-screen creatures they were modeled after.

    Bandai`s GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH figures. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1995 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1995 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH

    Theater Exclusive Meltdown Style Godzilla 1995. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1995 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1995 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 1995 (BURNING) • W/T - $50-$80 • W/O - $35-$45 GODZILLA JUNIOR • W/T - $25-$40 • W/O - $20- $25 DESTOROYAH (CRAB STAGE) • W/T - $50-$75 • W/O - $40-$50 DESTOROYAH (FINAL STAGE) • W/T - $30-$50 • W/O - $25-$30 GODZILLA 1995 (BIG SCALE “SUPER FINAL PREMIUM” 24 INCHES SAME MOLD AS 1994 ISSUE BUT WITH TRANSLUSCENT ORANGE AND RED VINYL) • In Box - $700-$900 • Out of Box - $500-$700

    EXCLUSIVES

    GODZILLA 1995 (THEATER “MELTDOWN” STYLE) • W/T - $100-$150 • W/O - $80-$100

    Comparison shot from Left to Right: Standard Bandai Angilas, Gigan, and Megalon vs. 1995 Memorial Box Megalon, Gigan, and Angilas. Note slight differences in both size and paint. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1995 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1995 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA MEMORIAL BOX • Complete Set - $400-$500 GODZILLA MEMORIAL BOX INDIVIDUAL FIGURES (ALL REISSUES OF PREVIOUS MOLDS) GODZILLA 1962 STYLE (RESCULPTED FINS) • $40-$60

    From the 1994 Memorial Box: Battra Larva, Hedorah, Rodan, Mothra 1964 Larva, Spacegodzilla, Godzillasaurus. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © Toho Co., Ltd. © 1995 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    ANGILAS • $25-$35 GODZILLASAURUS • $20-$30 MECHAGODZILLA 1974 • $30-$45 MECHAGODZILLA 1993 • $20-$30 BATTRA LARVA • $45-$55 MOTHRA LARVA 1964 • $10-$20 M.O.G.E.R.A. 1994 • $25-$35 KING GHIDORAH 1964 • $45-$65

    GIGAN • $15-$25 HEDORAH THE SMOG MONSTER • $45-$55 MEGALON • $50-$70 RODAN 1956 • $25-$35 SPACEGODZILLA • $45-$70 *Note: None of the GODZILLA MEMORIAL BOX figures came with tags but rather unattached “cards” which resembled normal tags except came separate and had no puncture holes. As for the figures themselves, most can be easily distinguished from their original issues due to drastic paint variations and noticeable size differences. The general consensus on the individual figures is that they are in so little demand outside of the complete set that it does not matter whether they have a card or not, so only one individual value is given.

    Bandai Gamera 1995. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1995 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © 1995 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE

    In 1995, Gamera also made his return to the big screen with GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE. The movie was highly regarded by fans and set a new standard for kaiju movies, especially after the lackluster GODZILLA VS. SPACEGODZILLA. The trilogy continued in 1996 with GAMERA 2: ADVENT OF LEGION and GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRYS in 1999. The final movie in particular is still regarded as a template from which future kaiju movies could be made. GAMERA 1995 • W/T - $30-$40 • W/O – $25-$30 SUPER GYAOS 1995 • W/T - $35-$40 • W/O - $30-$35 GAMERA 1995 (BIG SCALE VERSION 11 INCHES) • Complete In Box - $80-$100 • Out of Box - $40-$80

    1996

    GODZILLA FOREVER SET • Complete Set - $900-$1000 GODZILLA FOREVER SET INDIVIDUAL FIGURES (ALL REISSUES OF PREVIOUS MOLDS)

    Godzilla

    GODZILLA 1962 (RESCULPTED FINS) • $150-$200 GODZILLA 1995 “FOREVER MELTDOWN” EDITION • $200-$300 GODZILLA 1995 “GLITTER VERSION” • $250-$350 BABY GODZILLA 1993 • $50-$80 FIRE RODAN 1993 • $50-$80 MECHA-KING GHIDORAH • $100-$150 *Note: The GODZILLA FOREVER SET contains some of the rarest of the rare not only because of its limited nature, but also because of the astounding paint jobs on the figures. MECHA-KING GHIDORAH sports gold sections in the wings ala the movie version and brighter, metallic paint. FIRE RODAN has lightning like veins painted on the wings very accurately, and the GLITTER GODZILLA is still one of the most prized toys Bandai has ever released. This set has held its value well. Due to their highly collectable nature, we have not seen enough of them without tags to list them W/O.

    REBIRTH OF MOTHRA

    The Year 1996 saw the release of REBIRTH OF MOTHRA (simply MOTHRA in Japan) which was the first of a trilogy of new films aimed at children starring the giant moth. MOTHRA 1997 ADULT (REISSUE OF 1992 STYLE IN BOX WITHOUT FUR AND WITH YELLOW PAINT) • In Box - $20-$30 • Out of Box - $15-$20

    Bandai Mothra Larva 1997 and Death Ghidorah. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1996 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1996 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    MOTHRA 1997 ADULT “LEO” STYLE WITH FLAPPING WINGS • In Box – $25-$35 • Out of Box - $20-$25 MOTHRA 1997 LARVA • W/T - $20-$25 • W/O - $15-$20 DEATH GHIDORAH • In Box – $60-$80 • Out of Box – $40-$60

    GAMERA 2: ADVENT OF LEGION

    Bandai Theater Exclusive Gamera 1996 Style and Standard 1996 Style. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1996 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © 1996 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GAMERA 1996 • W/T - $35-$50 • W/O - $30-$35 LEGION • W/T - $60-$70 • W/O - $45-$60

    EXCLUSIVES

    GAMERA 1996 (THEATER STYLE) • W/T - $60-$90 • W/O - $45-$60

    1997

    REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 2 (aka: MOTHRA 2: SHOWDOWN BENEATH THE SEA) FIGURES

    MOTHRA ADULT 1998 (REISSUE OF MOTHRA “LEO” WITH RAINBOW COLORED WINGS) • In Box - $30-$35 • Out of Box - $25-$30 AQUA MOTHRA 1998 • In Box - $45-$55 • Out of Box - $30-$40

    MOTHRA 2: SHOWDOWN BENEATH THE SEA Battle Set featuring the only poseable figure of Dagahra that Bandai produced. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1997 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1997 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    MOTHRA 2: SHOWDOWN BENEATH THE SEA BATTLE SET (INCLUDES SMALLER SCALE DAGAHRA, AQUA MOTHRA, GHOGO, GARUGARU 2, and FAIRY MOTHRA) • Complete Set In Box – $45-$65 MOTHRA 2: SHOWDOWN BENEATH THE SEA BATTLE SET INDIVIDUAL FIGURES AQUA MOTHRA • $15-$25 DAGAHRA • $20-$30 GHOGO • N/A GARUGARU 2 • N/A FAIRY MOTHRA • N/A *Note: There was no DAGAHRA figure made in the 8 inch scale reportedly due to the low sales of DEATH GHIDORAH the previous year. This no doubt disappointed many fans as most agree that the monster itself is well done.

    1998

    The year 1998 is a very important one for Bandai. The REBIRTH OF MOTHRA trilogy came to an end with little fanfare and a few toys were put out for its release. There was no PREHISTORIC MOTHRA LARVA figure made aside from a small, super-deformed version which came with the armored MOTHRA ADULT. It is also the year Bandai began reissuing some of their older sculpts in the 6 inch scale as part of their GODZILLA ISLAND series of toys based on the kids` short programs of the same name that appeared on Japanese TV. This series also introduced brand new (and vastly superior) sculpts of some figures such as GIGAN and KING GHIDORAH 1991. These figures were reissued throughout the MILLENNIUM SERIES of GODZILLA films with different tags and paint schemes but the GODZILLA ISLAND tags generally seem to be significantly more valuable than the later reissues. The tags were all numbered and are noted as such.

    REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 3 (aka: MOTHRA 3: INVASION OF KING GHIDORAH) FIGURES

    MOTHRA ADULT 1999 (ARMORED VERSION) • In Box – $25-$35 • Out of Box - $20-$25 KING GHIDORAH 1999 (GRAND STYLE 14 INCH SCALE) • In Box - $40-$60 • Out of Box - $35-$40

    EXCLUSIVES

    RAINBOW MOTHRA (6 INCH SCALE THEATER STYLE TRANSLUSCENT WITH TOHO KAIJU TAG) • W/T - $30-$35 • W/O - $20-$25

    GODZILLA ISLAND SERIES

    The Godzilla Island Series Gigan (Left) sported a brand new and improved sculpt. The figure was reissued with a slightly modified paint job for Bandai`s Movie Monster Series Version (Right) in 2001. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1972 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1998-2001 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    G-01 GODZILLA HEISEI STYLE (REISSUE OF 8 INCH 1992 GODZILLA) • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $8-$12 G-02 MOTHRA LARVA 1992 STYLE • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $5-$10 G-03 KING GHIDORAH 1991 (NEW SCULPT) • W/T - $20-$25 • W/O - $15-$20

    Comparison of the 1998 Godzilla Island Series King Seesar on Left and the 2003 Movie Monster Series King Seesar on Right. Note the improved paint job on the Movie Monster Series figure. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1974 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1998-2003 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    G-04 MECHAGODZILLA 1993 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 G-05 G-FORCE M.O.G.E.R.A 1994 • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 G-06 GIGAN (NEW SCULPT) • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 G-07 ANGILAS (BORYU ANGUIRUS) • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$12 G-08 SPACEGODZILLA • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 G-09 KING SEESAR • W/T - $40-$50 • W/O - $20-$30 *Note: The 6 inch KING SEESAR has become a hot item over the last few years no matter what tag although the MOVIE MONSTER SERIES issue from 2003 seems to go for slightly more due to the improvement in paint.

    Bandai Godzilla Island Style Mecha-King Ghidorah. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1991 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1998 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    G-10 FIRE RODAN • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $5-$10 G-11 MECHA-KING GHIDORAH (NEW SCULPT) • W/T - $20-$30 • W/O - $15-$20 G-12 DESTOROYAH (NEWLY SCULPTED “SPREAD” WINGS) • W/T - $20-$30 • W/O -$15-$20 In late 1998, the original GODZILLA ISLAND tags ceased production (along with the show itself) and in came the TOHO KAIJU SERIES green tags. All the previous GODZILLA ISLAND tagged toys were reissued with the TOHO KAIJU SERIES tags and with the same numerical sequence. Due to their relatively short run, the GODZILLA ISLAND tagged figures have become more valuable for their tags. There was no difference in paint with these reissues.

    Toho Kaiju Series Tags for Rainbow Mothra and Cretaceous Ghidorah. © 1998 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1998 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    TOHO KAIJU SERIES

    G-01 GODZILLA HEISEI STYLE • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $8-$12 G-02 MOTHRA LARVA 1992 STYLE • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $5-$10 G-03 KING GHIDORAH 1991 • W/T - $20-$25 • W/O - $15-$20

    Toho Kaiju Series G-Force M.O.G.E.R.A on Left and the vastly improved painting on the Movie Monster Series Reissue on Right. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1994 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1998-2002 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    G-04 MECHAGODZILLA 1993 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 G-05 G-FORCE M.O.G.E.R.A 1994 • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 G-06 GIGAN • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 G-07 ANGILAS • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$12 G-08 SPACEGODZILLA • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 G-09 KING SEESAR • W/T - $40-$50 • W/O - $20-$30 G-10 FIRE RODAN • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $5-$10

    Bandai Toho Kaiju Series Cretacious King Ghidorah from REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 3. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1998 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1998 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    G-11 MECHA-KING GHIDORAH • W/T - $20-$30 • W/O - $15-$20 G-12 DESTOROYAH • W/T - $20-$30 • W/O -$15-$20 G-13 RAINBOW MOTHRA • W/T - $10-$15 • W/O - $5-$10 *Note: According to www.vinylmaddness.com, this toy originally had no paint detail on the underside of the wings but there have been a few that have popped up with the paint detail. It isn’t entirely known how many of these are in existence and if it was part of production or an error. G-14 CRETACEOUS KING GHIDORAH • W/T - $30-$40 • W/O - $20-$30

    1999

    The turn of the century marked the return of the one true GODZILLA after the decided disaster that was the Tri-Star remake directed by Roland Emmerich. GODZILLA 2000 (aka GODZILLA 2000: MILLENNIUM) was released in Japan in December that year and, while it showed some bold new ideas and an attempt at improved SPFX, it still failed to make the splash that Toho was hoping it would. Bandai chose not to return to the 8 inch scale for the toys based on GODZILLA and ORGA. They were also numbered in sequence with the TOHO KAIJU SERIES.

    TOHO KAIJU SERIES

    G-15 GODZILLA 1954 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 G-16 GODZILLA 2000 • W/T - $30-$40 • W/O - $20-$30 G-17 ORGA • W/T - $35-$45 • W/O - $25-$35

    EXCLUSIVES

    Bandai Theater Exclusive Godzilla 2000: Millennium Style and Limited Edition Crystal Version. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1999 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1999 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 2000 (THEATER STYLE TRANSLUSCENT ORANGE/CREAM) • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $15-$25 GODZILLA 2000 (SUPER LIMITED CRYSTAL VERSION TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL EVENT EXCLUSIVE) • W/T - $100-$200 • W/O - N/A. *Note: There have been a few translucent "lottery" or event exclusives of Godzilla 2000 style and Orga most notably in the colors red and green for Godzilla, and green for Orga. According to vinylmaddness.com, the green Orga may be a bootleg, whereas the green and red Godzillas appear to be legitimate exclusives but are impossibly rare. One should use extreme caution, however, when dealing with these figures as it is possible to take either the theater exclusive figure or the crystal Godzilla 2000 and dye the vinyl whatever color one wishes, as several collectors including Brandon Shields have done.

    GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRYS

    01 GAMERA 1999 • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 02 HYPER GYAOS • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O – $10-$15 03 IRYS • W/T - $45-$55 • W/O - $35-$45 GAMERA 1999 (BIG SCALE VERSION 24 INCHES) • In Box - $225-$300 • Out of Box - $180-$225

    Bandai Gamera 1999, Irys, and Hyper Gyaos. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1999 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © 1999 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    EXCLUSIVES

    GAMERA 1999 (THEATER STYLE WITH “BURNING” FIST) • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $15-$25 GAMERA MEMORIAL BOX (RESCULPTS OF THE CLASSIC GAMERA MONSTERS IN 6 INCH SCALE) • Complete in Box – $70-$80 GAMERA MEMORIAL BOX INDIVIDUAL FIGURES

    Bandai Gamera Memorial Box 1999. Note the Improved Sculpts of Gamera and Zigra. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1965-71 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © 1999 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    04 GAMERA 1965 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 05 BARUGON • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 06 GYAOS 1967 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 07 VIRAS • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 08 GUIRON • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 09 JIGER • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 10 ZIGRA • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15

    2000

    GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRUS (aka GODZILLA X MEGAGUIRUS)

    Banda`s standard Godzilla 2001 and Megaguirus figures were only released as a set. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 2000 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2000 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA X MEGAGUIRUS FIGURE SET • Complete on blister card - $45-$75 GODZILLA X MEGAGUIRUS FIGURE SET INDIVIDUAL FIGURES GODZILLA 2001 (REISSUE OF PREVIOUS GODZILLA 2000 WITH LIGHT GREEN VINYL AND TRANSLUSCENT ORANGE “POWER UP” BACK FINS) • $25-$35 MEGAGUIRUS • $30-$40

    Tag for the Theater Exclusive Megaguirus figure. © 2000 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2000 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GRIFFON • N/A MEGANURON • N/A MEGANURA • N/A *Note: The blister pack was the only way to get the figures of GODZILLA and MEGAGUIRUS as they were not released separately with tags. It is possible to find them from broken up sets though.

    EXCLUSIVES

    GODZILLA 2001 (THEATER STYLE METALLIC ORANGE AND GOLD) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $15-$25 MEGAGUIRUS (THEATER STYLE SILVER IN BOX) • W/T - $50-$75 • W/O - $20-$30 *Note: This figure came packaged with a tag in a plain white box which had the customary gold Godzilla product sticker on it.

    Interior of tag for the Asian Fantasy Film Festival Exclusive Gamera 1999 Crystal Version. © 1999 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © 2006 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 2001 (SUPER “PEARL” EVENT EXCLUSIVE) • W/T - $350-$400 • W/O - N/A

    GAMERA FIGURES

    GAMERA 1999 (ASIAN FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL EVENT EXCLUSIVE CRYSTAL VERSION) • W/T - $35-$45 • W/O – N/A

    2001

    After the poor box office receipts of GODZILLA X MEGAGUIRUS, Toho decided to hire GAMERA SERIES director Shusuke Kaneko to inject some new life into GODZILLA. The result was GODZILLA, MOTHRA, AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK, a movie which certainly divided fans in opinion but nonetheless restored some integrity to the series. It also prompted Bandai to return to the 8 inch scale which made fans extremely happy. The quality of Bandai’s output during this period was unparalleled.

    GODZILLA, MOTHRA, AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK

    Tag for the Godzilla 2002 figure from GMK. © 2001 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2001 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 2002 • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $20-$25 BARAGON 2002 • W/T - $45-$65 • W/O - $40-$45 MOTHRA 2002 • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $15-$25 KING GHIDORAH 2002 • W/T - $35-$45 • W/O - $25-$35

    EXCLUSIVES

    GODZILLA 2002 (THEATER STYLE TRANSLUSCENT GRAY) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - N/A BARAGON 2002 (THEATER STYLE TRANSLUSCENT PINK) • W/T - $20-$25 • W/O - N/A

    Hyper Hobby Limited Exclusive

    MOTHRA 2002 (THEATER STYLE TRANSLUSCENT PURPLE) • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - N/A KING GHIDORAH 2002 (THEATER STYLE TRANSLUSCENT YELLOW) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - N/A GODZILLA 2002 (HYPER HOBBY GLITTER VERSION) • W/T - $100-$125 • W/O - N/A GODZILLA 2002 (EVENT EXCLUSIVE CRYSTAL VERSION) • W/T - $125-$175 • W/O - N/A BARAGON 2002 (EVENT EXCLUSIVE TRANSLUSCENT ORANGE) • W/T - $20-$25 • W/O - N/A GODZILLA 1954 SPECIAL EIJI TSUBURAYA COMMEMORATIVE EDITIONS (TRANSLUCENT “SMOKE” AND “SEPIA TONED” VERSIONS, BOTH SAME PRICES) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $15-$20 Also in 2001 was the reissue of many of the 6 inch figures as the new MOVIE MONSTER SERIES which had new tags and new paintjobs. Completely new to this series was a 6 inch GODZILLA 1995 BURNING STYLE which had a base vinyl of translucent orange. All MOVIE MONSTER SERIES reissues will be sectioned off by year.

    MOVIE MONSTER SERIES 6 INCH SCALE

    Movie Monster Series Tag for Burning Godzilla. © 1995 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2001 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 1954 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 GODZILLA HEISEI SYLE • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 GODZILLA 1995 BURNING STYLE • W/T - $30-$40 • W/O - $25-$30 ANGILAS • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 GIGAN • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 KING GHIDORAH 1991 • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25

    Comparison shot of 1998 Toho Kaiju Series Angilas on Left and 2001 Movie Monster Series Version on Right. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1968 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1998-2001 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    MECHA-KING GHIDORAH • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25 SPACEGODZILLA • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 DESTOROYAH • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25 MOTHRA ADULT 1998 • W/T - $10-$15 • W/O - $5-$10 GAMERA 1999 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15

    From L to R: Bandai Gamera 1999 First Issue, Movie Monster Series Reissue, Theater Exclusive

    2002

    GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA

    Tag for the Bandai Mechagodzilla 2003 (without weapons) figure. © 2002 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2002 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 2003 • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $20-$25 MECHAGODZILLA 2003 (WITH AUXILIARY WEAPONS) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25 MECHAGODZILLA 2003 (WITHOUT WEAPONS) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25

    EXCLUSIVES

    GODZILLA 2003 (THEATER STYLE “FROZEN” WITH WHITE AND BLUE PAINT) • W/T - $45-$55 • W/O - N/A MECHAGODZILLA 2003 (THEATER STYLE “REVERSE” COLORS) • W/T - $45-$55 • W/O - N/A GODZILLA 2003 (ITO YOKADO EXCLUSIVE TRANSLUCENT RED) • W/T - $75-$100 • W/O - N/A

    From Left to Right: Bandai Limited Edition Ito Yokado Godzilla 2003 (Red), Ito Yokado Godzilla 2004 (Gray), and HMV Exclusive Godzilla 2004 (Green). Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 2002-03 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2002-03 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    MECHAGODZILLA 2003 (LINK SCIENCE EXCLUSIVE BLACK PAINT) • W/T - $75-$90 • W/O – N/A MECHAGODZILLA 1975 (SUPER LIMITED “CRYSTAL” VERSION) • W/T - $100-$150 • W/O - N/A

    MOVIE MONSTER SERIES 6 INCH SCALE

    MECHAGODZILLA 1975 STYLE • W/T - $50-$60 • W/O - $25-$40 TITANOSAURUS • W/T - $75-$90 • W/O - $50-$70 *Note: The release of the TITANOSAURUS figure heralded a victory for the fans. At the Asian Fantasy Film Expo in 2001, Yasumasa Kawauchi from the Bandai Company was in attendance and asked enthusiastic fans which monster they most want to see a figure made of. Titanosaurus won by an overwhelming majority. It is no surprise that soon after that a figure was made along with a version of Mechagodzilla 2. The quality of these figures is so good because Bandai sculpted them with the appropriate suit wrinkles and details.

    GODZILLA JUNIOR • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 FIRE RODAN • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 G-FORCE M.O.G.E.R.A. 1994 • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15

    2003

    GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS

    GODZILLA 2004 (CLOSED MOUTH WITH CHEST SCAR) • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $20-$25 MECHAGODZILLA 2004 (WITH AUXILIARY WEAPONS) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25 MECHAGODZILLA 2004 (WITHOUT WEAPONS AND WITH DRILL ARM) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25 MOTHRA ADULT 2004 • W/T – $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25 MOTHRA LARVA 2004 “A” STYLE (STRAIGHT BODY) • W/T - $35-$45 • W/O - $25-$35 MOTHRA LARVA 2004 “B” STYLE (CURVED BODY) • W/T - $40-$50 • W/O - $30-$40 *Note: There were not as many “B” style Mothra Larva produced as the “A” style mold.

    Tag for the Theater Exclusive Mothra 2004. © 2003 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2003 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    EXCLUSIVES

    GODZILLA 2004 (THEATER STYLE WITH YELLOW CHEST HIGHLIGHTS) • W/T - $30-$35 • W/O - N/A MECHAGODZILLA 2004 (THEATER STYLE “REVERSE” COLORS) • W/T - $35-$40 • W/O - N/A MOTHRA ADULT 2004 (THEATER STYLE TRANSLUCENT WINGS) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - N/A MOTHRA LARVA 2004 “A” STYLE (THEATER STYLE TRANSLUCENT BROWN) • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - N/A GODZILLA 2004 (ITO YOKADO EXCLUSIVE TRANSLUCENT GRAY) • W/T - $30-$40 • W/O - N/A MECHAGODZILLA 2004 (ITO YOKADO EXCLUSIVE TRANSLUCENT BLACK) • W/T - $45-$50 • W/O - N/A

    An attached tag for the HMV Exclusive Godzilla 2004 figure. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 2003 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2003 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 2004 (HMV EXCLUSIVE TRANSLUCENT GREEN) • W/T - $35-$45 • W/O - N/A TOY DREAM PROJECT GODZILLA: TOKYO S.O.S. BOX SET WITH TWIN FAIRIES KEYCHAIN • Complete in Box – $55-$65 TOY DREAM PROJECT GODZILLA: TOKYO S.O.S. BOX SET INDIVIDUAL FIGURES GODZILLA 2004 • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O – N/A MECHAGODZILLA 2004 • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O – N/A TWIN FARIES KEYCHAIN – N/A

    MOVIE MONSTER SERIES 6 INCH SCALE

    GODZILLA 1974 STYLE • W/T - $45-$50 • W/O - $35-$45 KING SEESAR • W/T - $40-$50 • W/O - $35-$40

    Left to Right: Bandai Museum 6 Inch Scale

    EXCLUSIVES

    BANDAI MUSEUM GODZILLA 1995 MELTDOWN SET 6 INCH SCALE • Complete Set - $100-$150 BANDAI MUSEUM GODZILLA 1995 MELTDOWN SET 6 INCH SCALE INDIVIDUAL FIGURES GLITTER GODZILLA • W/T - $30-$50 • W/O - N/A FOREVER MELTDOWN GODZILLA • W/T - $30-$50 • W/O - N/A ORANGE MELTDOWN GODZLLA • W/T - $30-$50 • W/O - N/A

    2004

    Slumping ticket sales and waning interest proved to be too much for the GODZILLA SERIES to handle as Toho had once again decided to retire their big star. GODZILLA: FINAL WARS was released and contained a horde of classic monsters, some not seen in decades. At first, it seemed that Bandai would release figures of all the monsters in the movie but after the movie bombed (made worse by its over-inflated budget) the company seemed to decide to cut their losses and cease production on any other kaiju from the film.

    For this reason, it is truly baffling why they decided to waste the vinyl needed to make an XILIAN figure… which dealers can’t seem to give away. And believe us, we’ve seen them try.

    GODZILLA: FINAL WARS

    GODZILLA 2005 • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $20-$25 GIGAN 2005 • W/T - $50-$60 • W/O - $40-$50 GIGAN 2005 (UPGRADED VERSION WITH “CHAINSAW” ARMS) • W/T - $75-$80 • W/O - $50-$60 MONSTER X • W/T - $65-$75 • W/O - $55-$65

    KEIZER GHIDORAH • W/T - $75-$85 • W/O - $65-$75 MOTHRA ADULT 2005 (FIRE STYLE REISSUE OF 2004 MOLD) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O - $20-$25 ANGILAS 2005 • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 RODAN 2005 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 MINYA 2005 • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - $20-$25 XILIAN • W/T - $5-$10 • W/O – N/A

    MOVIE MONSTER SERIES 6 INCH SCALE

    According to vinylmaddness.com, there were also various figures in the MOVIE MONSTER SERIES reissued yet again. The 2004 editions were virtually identical except they had non-folded, single tags but it has been hard to verify just how many different figures were reissued with single tags.

    The GODZILLA: FINAL WARS Theater Exclusives. From Left to Right: Godzilla 2005, Rodan 2005, Angilas 2005. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 2004 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2004 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    EXCLUSIVES

    GODZILLA 2005 (THEATER STYLE TRANSLUCENT BLUE WITH WHITE HIGHLIGHTS) • W/T - $35-$40 • W/O - N/A ANGILAS 2005 (THEATER STYLE REDDISH BROWN PAINT) • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - N/A RODAN 2005 (THEATER STYLE DARK PAINT) • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - N/A GODZILLA 2005 (ITO YOKADO EXCLUSIVE CLEAR TRANSLUCENT VINYL) • W/T - $40-$45 • W/O - N/A GODZILLA 2005 (HMV EXCLUSIVE GRAY PAINT) • W/T - $35-$45 • W/O - N/A ANGILAS 2005 (HMV EXCLUSIVE GRAY PAINT) • W/T - $25-$30 • W/O – N/A GODZILLA MEMORIAL BOX 2004 • Complete Set – $400-$500 *Note: The figures in the 2004 GODZILLA MEMORIAL BOX had no tags attached but, like the 1990s MEMORIAL BOX, came with a card which represented each figure. As far as we can tell, the presence of the card has not really affected the individual values.

    GODZILLA MEMORIAL BOX 2004 INDIVIDUAL PIECES GODZILLA 1954 • $15-$20 GODZILLA 1955 • $40-$50 *Note: The dorsal fins on GODZILLA 1955 were accidently glued upside down. This error was corrected for the Toy Dream Project release but there are no known versions from the Memorial Box that have corrected fins. GODZILLA 1962 • $35-$50

    Bandai

    GODZILLA 1964 • $25-$40 GODZILLA 1965 • $45-$55 GODZILLA 1967 • $45-$60 GODZILLA 1968 • $50-$55 FAKE GODZILLA 1974 (DISGUISED MECHAGODZILLA VERSION WITH EXPOSED ARM PIECE) • $45-$55 GODZILLA 1975 • $55-$60 GODZILLA 1984 • $60-$80 GODZILLA HEISEI • $15-$25 GODZILLA 1995 MELTDOWN • $20-$30 GODZILLA 2000 • $15-$20

    Bandai Memorial Box 2004 Rodan 1993 Style; the first time Bandai ever produced a figure of Rodan 1993 without 'fire' details. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1993 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2004 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA JUNIOR • $10-$15 GODZILLASAURUS • $15-$25 RODAN 1993 (BROWN PAINT) • $15-$25 *Note: This is the first time a 1993 RODAN was issued in pre-“fire” style colors. ANGILAS (“BLACK AND WHITE” VERSION) • $10-$15 GIGAN (BLACK PAINT) • $20-$30 MECHAGODZILLA 1975 (BLACK PAINT) • $20-$30 KING GHIDORAH 1991 • $20-$25

    Left to Right to R: Bandai Godzilla Memorial Box 2004 Godzilla 1955, 1965, 1967, and 1975 Styles. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © Toho Co., Ltd. © 2004 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    2005

    The year 2005 once more brought a batch of MOVIE MONSTER SERIES reissues but this time the tags were altered. They returned to the gatefold style and sported a reddish/pink color on the front but are otherwise the same series. Also in this set were scaled-down versions of GODZILLA 2005, GIGAN 2005, MOTHRA 2004, and MECHAGODZILLA 2004.

    MOVIE MONSTER SERIES 6 INCH SCALE

    Movie Monster Series Tag for Godzilla 2005. © 2004 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2005 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 2005 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 GIGAN 2005 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 ANGILAS 2005 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 RODAN 2005 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 MECHAGODZILLA 2004 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15

    Bandai Movie Monster Series 6 inch scale versions of Godzilla 2005, Mechagodzilla 2004, Mothra 2004, and Gigan 2005. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 2003-04 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2003-05 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    MOTHRA 2004 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 GODZILLA 1954 • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 GODZILLA HEISEI • W/T -$12-$15 • W/O - $5-$10

    Three different 6 Inch Scale Destoroyah Figures. From Left to Right: 1998 Godzilla Island Version, 2003 Movie Monster Series Version, and 2005 Version. Note the resculpted wings which can spread, unlike the folded wings of the 8 Inch Version from 1995. Photo courtesy of Mike Russo and John DeSentis. © 1995 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1998-2005 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    SPACEGODZILLA • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15 KING GHIDORAH • W/T - $20-$25 • W/O - $15-$20 MECHA-KING GHIDORAH • W/T - $20-$25 • W/O - $15-$20 DESTOROYAH • W/T - $20-$25 • W/O - $15-$20

    EXCLUSIVES

    TOY DREAM PROJECT EXCLUSIVE MELTDOWN GODZILLA • W/T - $50-$60 • W/O – N/A

    2006

    MOVIE MONSTER SERIES 6 INCH SCALE

    GODZILLA 1968 (REISSUE OF 6 INCH SCALE MEMORIAL BOX FIGURE WITH BLACK PAINT) • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 *Note: The tags for the MOVIE MONSTER SERIES were now colored purple. Also, the GODZILLA 1968 figure (known in fan circles as "Godzilla 1971") is noted for its tag incorrectly featuring the GODZILLA 1973 style from the movie GODZILLA VS. MEGALON. HEDORAH 1971 (RESCULPT) • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 JET JAGUAR (RESCULPT) • W/T – $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 *Note: The new sculpts of both HEDORAH and JET JAGUAR are incredible upgrades over their 8 inch scale counterparts from the 1990s. These would be the last new Godzilla figures that Bandai has released to date.

    GAMERA THE BRAVE

    In 2002, Daiei Studios was sold to the Kadokawa Publishing Company and became part of Kadokawa Pictures. Kadokawa released a new Gamera movie in 2006 called GAMERA THE BRAVE. The film was a return to the old style of Gamera being the friend of all children. It would appear this was a mistake as the film failed to perform at the box office and any hope of a new series fizzled. A few new toys were made in conjunction with GAMERA THE BRAVE, but Bandai once again played it safe and did not produce a standard figure of Gamera`s latest foe, Zedus.

    Bandai Gamera 2006

    GAMERA 2006 (TOTO) • W/T - $10-$15 • W/O - $5-$10

    MOVIE MONSTER SERIES 6 INCH SCALE

    GAMERA 1965 (REISSUE) • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O -$10-$15 GAMERA 1999 (REISSUE) • W/T - $15-$25 • W/O - $10-$15 HYPER GYAOS 1999 (REISSUE) • W/T - $15-$20 • W/O - $10-$15

    EXCLUSIVES

    TOY DREAM PROJECT EXCLUSIVE GODZILLA AND TITANOSAURUS 1975 BOX SET • Complete Set Boxed - $65-$75 TOY DREAM PROJECT EXCLUSIVE GODZILLA AND TITANOSAURUS 1975 BOX SET INDIVIDUAL FIGURES

    Tags from the Toy Dream Project Exclusive Godzilla 1975 and Titanosaurus Box Set. © 1975 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2006 Bandai Co., Ltd.

    GODZILLA 1975 • W/T - $25-$35 • W/O - N/A TITANOSAURUS • W/T - $40-$55 • W/O - N/A TOY DREAM PROJECT EXCLUSIVE GODZILLA 1955 AND ANGILAS BOX SET • Complete Set Boxed - $35-$45 TOY DREAM PROJECT EXCLUSIVE GODZILLA 1955 AND ANGILAS BOX SET INDIVIDUAL FIGURES GODZILLA 1955 (“FROZEN” STYLE WHITE AND BLUE) • W/T - $10-$15 • W/O - N/A ANGILAS (“FIREY” STYLE) • W/T - $10-$15 • W/O - N/A

    From Left to Right: Bandai Hyper Hobby Exclusive White

    HYPER HOBBY EXCLUSIVE JET JAGUAR RED AND WHITE FROM GODZILLA ISLAND • Complete Set - $85-$100 HYPER HOBBY EXCLUSIVE JET JAGUAR RED • W/T - $40-$45 • W/O - N/A HYPER HOBBY EXCLUSIVE JET JAGUAR WHITE • W/T - $40-$45 • W/O - N/A HYPER HOBBY EXCLUSIVE MECHAGODZILLA 1975 (BLACK PAINT) • W/T - $100-$150 • W/O - N/A HMV EXCLUSIVE GAMERA SET (GAMERA 1965, 1999, and 2006 STYLES in GOLD, SILVER, and BRONZE PAINT) • Complete in Box - $60-$80 *Note: We have yet to see these individual figures for sale outside the complete set. None of the figures come with tags.

    2008

    In 2008, Toho once again issued the Godzilla films on Region 2 DVD in a series of box sets. There were also a limited number of exclusive box sets with repainted 6 inch scale figures. These have been reportedly limited to just 100 of each figure and as such are extremely rare and expensive.

    GODZILLA DVD COLLECTION FIGURES

    DVD EXCLUSIVE GODZILLA 1954 • W/T - $150-$200 • W/O - N/A DVD EXCLUSIVE GIGAN 1972 • W/T - $100-$200 • W/O - N/A DVD EXCLUSIVE GODZILLA 1984 • W/T - $250-$350 • W/O - N/A DVD EXCLUSIVE SPACEGODZILLA 1994 • W/T - $100-$150 • W/O – N/A

    BANDAI TOY MUSEUM 8 INCH SCALE FIGURES

    As an added bonus, we also are including the figures released as part of the BANDAI TOY MUSEUM SERIES. In addition to the aforementioned BANDAI MUSEUM exclusive “MELTDOWN GODZILLA” set from 2003, there was a series of more standard scale figures produced between 2004 and 2005 and sold exclusively at the company’s facility in Chiba Prefecture. These toys were sold on blister cards and became extremely popular with fans for their realistic look, especially the 1962 GODZILLA. These figures are as sought after as many of the standard Bandai toys produced before them. The three figures from SPACE AMOEBA (aka YOG: MONSTER FROM SPACE) seem to be especially hard to find.

    GODZILLA 1962 STYLE • On Blister Card - $100-$120 • Out of Blister Card – $60-$80 GODZILLA 1954 STYLE • On Blister Card - $75-$85 • Out of Blister Card - $40-$60 GODZILLA 2005 STYLE • On Blister Card - $80-$90 • Out of Blister Card - $60-$80 GEZORA • In Bag - $100-$120 • Out of Bag - $80-$100 KAMOEBA • In Bag - $100-$120 • Out of Bag - $80-$100 GANIME • In Bag - $100-$120 • Out of Bag - $80-$100 GOROSAURUS • In Bag - $90-$100 • Out of Bag - $80-$90 GIGAN • Boxed - $90-$100 • Out of Box - $70-$90 BARAGON • Boxed - $90-$100 • Out of Box - $70-$90

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    An extra special thanks is in order to a few individuals for their assistance in the making of this article. First goes out to Jean Carbajal and his website dedicated to all things Godzilla toys, Vinyl Maddness. Without his diligent documentation on the seemingly endless array of exclusives and 6 inch scale reissues, this article not have been as complete. Additional thanks goes out to Brandon and Andy Shields. All three contributed to the pricing of the figures and lent their extensive collector knowledge to the text. Finally, a special thanks to Mike Russo and Bob Johnson both of whom contributed photos of their collections. Fans looking for additional information and forums related to this subject matter are encouraged to visit both Vinyl Maddness and the Club Tokyo database.


    For a look at other Japanese monster toys, check out these earlier SciFi Japan reports by John “Dutch” DeSentis:


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